TreePAC Newsletter – April 2020

Hello everyone, and we hope this newsletter finds everyone safe and healthy with the CV19 situation here in the greater area hitting us harder than many other areas of the country.

While the overall effect will of course be to slow down public meetings and usual SeaCC action against our trees given other priorities, we still need to pay close attention in case things try to slip past scrutiny (the past two weeks’ SeaCC debacle on CB 119769 exempting public oversight of developers comes to mind, definitely) – keep your eyes and ears open!

In the meantime, to the extent that you can do it safely, the trees and urban forest of Seattle can offer some solace. What follows are a series of articles (some old, some new) on this topic. Take a moment for Nature and your mental health in these stressful times – you’ll be glad you did.

What Is Forest Bathing and How Do You Do It? - SportsRec, Nov 2018

What is 'forest bathing' – and can it make you healthier? - Guardian, Aug 2018

‘ Forest Bathing’ Is Great for Your Health. Here’s How to Do It – TIME, May 2018

Charles Mudede, Sept 2017 series from The Stranger: It's the End of the World and I'm Forest Bathing Tree Bathing Note 1: Wood Is The Greatest Stuff Ever Forest Bathing Note 2: The Science of Leaves Forest Bathing Note 3: Why A Spaceship Should Be Like a Forest Forest Bathing Note 4: Why Sarah Bergmann Clashes with Bee People

Trees of Seattle University (great map, they do tours too)

New Apps!! Trees for Seattle has published a new Seattle Tree Walk app! Android Apple

Other PNW & Tree Apps: Trees Pacific NW More info USFS PNW Forests (Apple only) and of course check out our Tree App page at TreePAC.org And, as regards Protecting Seattle Trees:

1) Now is not the time to let up – Keep going to the Don’t Clearcut Seattle website and click Take Action – keep submitting comments to the Mayor and City Council! – if you see something, say something. If you are worried about trees in your neighborhood or near a friend’s house, near a park, school or business district – if you see something, say something. Every. Tree. Matters.

2) Keep the calls and letters coming to the City Council and Mayor that you want them to Protect Seattle Trees:

Mayor Jenny Durkan: 206-684-4000 [email protected]

City Council (by District): (NOTE: you can contact all 9 Councilmembers by emailing [email protected])

D1: 206-684-8801 [email protected] D2: 206-684-8802 [email protected] D3: 206-684-8803 [email protected] D4: Alex Pedersen 206-684-8804 [email protected] D5: 206-684-8805 [email protected] D6: 206-684-8806 [email protected] D7: Andrew Lewis 206-684-8807 [email protected]

P8: 206-684-8808 [email protected] P9: Lorena Gonzalez 206-684-8809 [email protected]

…and as always, a phone call is often worth the value of many emails if you have the time to make one!

3) Know of exceptional or even potentially Heritage Trees in your neighborhood? Submit them to The Last 6,000 (seen below) and the Seattle Heritage Tree Program!

4) Want to save a tree at risk? David Moehring of the TreePAC Board has put together a great step by step guide on how – click here.

5) Get a shirt, mug, sticker, pin or banner! Besides the Don’t Clearcut Seattle yard signs (we still have some left, just ask us!), you can show your tree spirit by wearing a shirt, using a mug, posting stickers and banners! - check them all out here – all proceeds after costs support TreePAC and Don’t Clearcut Seattle – if history is any guide, they typically go on sale again towards the end of each month, keep an eye on the site, typically up to 35% off. And if you have ideas or designs to submit, let us know. 6) Tree Ordinance – The first 5 pages of the current Urban Forest Commission draft ordinance linked here are an outline of its contents, followed by the actual provisions – please review and submit feedback to the Seattle Urban Forestry Commission.

Draft UFC revision to Council D7 draft – Tree Regulations: Tree and Urban Forest Protection and Land Use Regulations

7) Any or all of the articles linked below in our News section(s) are fair game for supplying to the City Council and Mayor re tree protection – please remember when writing to the city that existing trees are usually even more effective than mass plantings, if protected. – we need BOTH.

Local Tree Activist Groups and Social Media: NOTE: these are tree-supporting area groups and social media feeds, including links to their event calendar(s). If you have some not seen here, please let us know so we can add them – TreePAC.

TreePAC: FaceBook Twitter If you wish to become involved in working on an updated Seattle Tree Ordinance, please reach out! You can securely donate to the cause by clicking here: DONATE

Seattle Urban Forestry Commission: Meetings are posted at the link immediately below, usually 1st and 2nd Wed each month from 3-5pm. Next meetings are May 6, May 13, June 3, June 10 and July 1, 2020.

In the current CV situation, meetings will be held over Skype conference call instead of in person - please click through for the current number/login. NOTE: If you have interest in future consideration for this commission, submit your info and request to Sandra Pinto de Bader.

Plant Amnesty (Seattle area): Facebook Twitter Instagram Urban Forest Gateway Events Classes-Workshops Adopt-a-Plant

Friends of Seattle’s Urban Forest: Facebook Twitter Instagram Coalition News Other Tree Ordinances

Don’t Clearcut Seattle (yard signs and more!) Facebook Instagram Events Local Tree/Activist groups (cont.)

Bloedel Reserve (Bainbridge Island) – Events listing [TEMPORARILY CLOSED]

DIRT Corps (Duwamish Infrastructure Restoration Training) Facebook Instagram

E3 Washington (Environment, Equity, Economy): Facebook Instagram Western WA Ev ents Calendar

Earth Corps (events across Greater Seattle): Facebook Instagram Volunteer Calendar (all events canceled for immediate future due to CV19 situation)

Eco Lógica magazine: Facebook - Articles

Forterra (Greater Seattle area): Facebook Twitter Instagram Events and local Work Parties, restoration – (many events getting canceled due to CV)

Friends of Seward Park: Facebook Monthly Meeting/activities - 2 nd Sat of most months (NOTE: due to CV19 situation, email ahead confirm event not canceled)

Green Seattle Partnership: Facebook Instagram (NOTE: due to CV19 situation, all volunteer events canceled until further notice)

Keep Ballard Trees Standing: Facebook

King County: We're Planting 1 Million Trees by 2020 Events

Nature Conservancy WA: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Nature Consortium: Facebook

Save Shoreline Trees: Facebook Local Tree/Activist groups (cont.)

Seattle Audubon: Facebook Instagram Events Calendar

Seattle Green Spaces Coalition Facebook

Seattle Nature Alliance: Facebook Instagram

SER Northwest: Facebook - click here for their Events Calendar

Seward Park Audubon Center: Facebook Instagram – Events Page

Sierra Club of WA: Facebook Instagram – Wed 5/6, 6/3, 7/1, 9/2 @7pm: National Forest Committee Meeting

Sustainable Seattle: Facebook Instagram - Events

The Last 6,000: Instagram - Latest Newsletter

The Seattle Lorax: Twitter

Thornton Creek Alliance: Facebook - Calendar

TreeKeepers Alliance: Facebook

Trees for Seattle: Facebook Events

Vanishing Seattle: Facebook Instagram

WA Native Plant Society Facebook Instagram Local/PNW Tree News:

Human Elements: Preserving 600-year-old giants – Crosscut, Apr 27

Union Bay Natural Area: A wild reminder of togetherness - UW Daily, Apr 27

Portland Commissioner Position 2 candidates explain what they believe are the city’s biggest inequities – Oregonian, Apr 27

Through coronavirus pandemic and two world wars, this Des Moines nursery keeps people planting and believing – SeaTimes, Apr 26

Blossoms - Shoreline Area News, April 26

How Climate Activist Jamie Margolin Plans to Save the World (and Graduate High School) – Seattle Magazine, April 2020

Climate change lecture unearths historical ‘Gaia hypothesis’ - UW Daily, Apr 26

Social distancing and its environmental implications: What could they mean for our future decision-making? - UW Daily, Apr 26

Northwest maple syrup? UW testing local bigleaf maples for sweet industry – SeaTimes, Apr 26

Even in the winter, this cultivated ‘conifer kingdom’ on Fox Island shines with layers, shapes and constant interes t – SeaTimes, Apr 25

Is the Emerald City Becoming the New “Stumptown?” - Conservation Catalyst, Apr 24

The Man Who Started Earth Day – SeaPI, Apr 22

Earth Day's 50th anniversary goes digital: Here's how in Seattle – SeaPI, Apr 22

‘We’ve got one planet and one chance’: Extinction Rebellion UW works to fight climate injustice through direct action – UW Daily, Apr 22

Mukilteo's lumbering legacy | Muk Revisited – Mukilteo Beacon, Apr 22

Idaho pursuing land exchange deal with timber company, US – SeaPI, Apr 21

The pandemic might set back field science for years – Crosscut, Apr 17 Local/PNW Tree News (cont.)

‘Stay Healthy Streets’ to launch with High Point greenway going almost car-free – West Seattle Blog, Apr 16

7 worthy schoolyard walks that will get your heart pumping during the quarantine – Kitsap Sun, Apr 16

10 pioneer-era apple varieties, thought extinct, found in PNW – LA Times, Apr 15

Aircraft to spray for invasive moths in Everett, Woodway – SeaPI, Apr 14

For the Birds: Save the birds – Protect their nests - Shoreline Area News, April 14

Culvert replacement to be more “fish-friendly” - Shoreline Area News, April 9

Reconnecting with nature at a safe distance – UW Daily, Apr 9

Snohomish PUD receives Arbor Day Foundation Award – Mukilteo Beacon, Apr 8

Human Elements: Healing forests with fire – Crosscut, Apr 6

Why Old-Growth Trees Are Crucial to Fighting Climate Change – WIRED, Apr 1

Foster Island: A world away from home, within walking distance – UW Daily, Mar 30

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest closes amid CV-19 – Everett Herald, Mar 28

Coronavirus could make fighting Washington wildfires harder – Crosscut, Mar 27

How coronavirus changed my neighborhood stroll – Crosscut, Mar 26

Discover 6 botanical spaces in this garden paradise – Federal Way Mirror, Mar 23

Fresh air fun: The 17 best parks and trails in Seattle – SeaPI, Mar 22

Breathtaking blooms: 7 Seattle spots to see spring blossoms – SeaPI, Mar 19

How Washington allows clear-cut logging in cities that don’t want it – Crosscut, Mar 19

Good trees for urban gardens: Plants (mostly native) for a Pacific Northwest hedge row – MyEdmonds News, Mar 18

What will historians make of Seattle 500 years from now? - Crosscut, Mar 18 Local/PNW Tree News (cont.)

Trees, Green, and All Your Nature Needs – SeattleU Spectator, Mar 12

UW won’t prevent cherry blossom tourism amid coronavirus – UW Daily, Mar 10

O Canada: These are the best big and small towns to visit and hang out in British Columbia – SeaPI, Mar 5

Bellevue Parks discusses Well-K.E.P.T. program’s accomplishments – Bellevue Reporter, Mar 5

Protecting more of the Olympic Peninsula would be a win for public lands and the economy – SeaTimes, Feb 27

Hilary Franz Does Epic S*** - The Stranger, Feb 26

Forests and Swift Water: A Love Story – Nature Conservancy WA, Feb 26

Wild Olympics Bill to protect environment passes House – Tacoma Weekly, Feb 22

County explores options for 27 acres: canceled DNR land swap – Kitsap Sun, Feb 19

Looking back: 1930s WPA project transformed Forest Park – Everett Herald, Feb 15

Bothell approves PROS plan – Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, Feb 12

House passes huge wilderness bill to protect 1.3 million acres – Wilderness Society WA, Feb 12

Experience the outdoors while staying indoors: A trip to the Volunteer Park Conservatory – UW Daily, Feb 10

Timely Tree Tips–Building Cities for Big Trees – TreeLink News, Jan 13

Tree News elsewhere:

Arbor Day Foundation – Blog (regularly updated with Tree News everywhere)

Country diary: dead trees offer a branch of hope – Guardian, Apr 28

VIRUS DIARY: Planting an apple seed, dreaming of tomorrow – TacNwsTrib, Apr 28 Tree News Elsewhere (cont.)

Three Rivers earns award for Whiting Forest canopy walk – SeaPI, Apr 26

Dog sleuths sniff out crop diseases – SeaPI, Apr 26

Farm harvests metal from plants – SeaPI, Apr 26

Lake Conroe Lions: Lake Conroe Lions commemorate Arbor Day – SeaPI, Apr 26

44 plant species now illegal to sell, exchange in Indiana – SeaPI, Apr 25

Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on Planting Thousands of Trees to Help Combat Climate Change – SeaPI, Apr 24

An Instrument Maker Is Building Guitars Out of Highway Trees – SeaPI, Apr 24

Illinois conservation district brings outdoors inside – Tacoma NewsTribune, Apr 24

Wilton Naturalist: Taking a ‘bath’ in the forest – SeaPI, Apr 23

Prized planet: Earth Day’s 50th anniversary worth celebrating – SeaPI, Apr 22

On Earth Day look back at some of Keep Midland Beautiful's tree planting events – SeaPI, Apr 22

The 50 Biggest Moments in Environmentalism Since First Earth Day – SeaPI, Apr 22

Earth Day's global legacy, 50 years later – Kitsap Sun, April 21

Amazon is spending $10M to expand forests and capture carbon – SeaTimes, Apr 21

An Earth Day anniversary talk with Bill McKibben – SeaPI, Apr 21

Celebrate Arbor Day – SeaPI, Apr 21

'Whether lit by the sun or moonlight, this walnut tree always makes me happy' – Guardian, Apr 20

Reader celebrates 50 years of Earth Day – SeaPI, Apr 19

Vermont's Putnam State Forest expands by almost 1,900-acres – SeaPI, Apr 18

Trees destroyed at Las Vegas park named after slain officer – SeaPI, Apr 18 Tree News Elsewhere (cont.)

The first Earth Day was a shot heard around the world – SeaPI, Apr 17

In the redwoods, logging and tree sitting continue, even as the pandemic shuts mills – LA Times, Apr 16

Prizes offered for walking trails in Wilton (CT) – SeaPI, Apr 17

‘There’s No More Water’: Climate Change on a Drying Island – NY Times, Apr 16

Country diary: this lofty tree is a pandemic survivor – Guardian, Apr 15

'A Reminder That Nature Is Strong': In Japan, A 1,000-Year-Old Cherry Tree Blooms – KNKX, Apr 14

The Defiant Beauty of Cherry Blossom Season – NY Times, Apr 14

California’s plan for Joshua Trees: good for more than just U2 fans – LA Times, Apr 13

Scientists: Joshua Trees may warrant listing as threatened – LA Times, Apr 13

'It brings me calm whenever I'm in its presence' – Guardian, Apr 13

Animal Viruses Jumping to Humans. Forest Loss Makes It Easier. - NY Times, Apr 9

Tolkien right: giant trees have towering role in protecting forests – Guardian, Apr 9

'This little cherry tree just won't give up – it makes me so happy' – Guardian, Apr 6

Maine forest owners receive biggest donation in history – SeaPI, Apr 5

HS2 wood clearance to go ahead as Chris Packham legal bid fails – Guardian, Apr 3

Decision to renew Victorian logging agreements criticised after summer bushfires – Guardian, Apr 2

'Betrayal of trust': HS2 criticised over removal of woodland soils – Guardian, Apr 1

Oregon man leaves $2 million for Montana forest museum – SeaTimes Mar 29

Call to the wild: Great outdoors an escape in tough times – SeaPI, Mar 29

D.C. planted nearly 80 trees/day: It’s running out of space. - Washington Post, Mar 27 Tree News Elsewhere (cont.)

The Beautiful World Beside the Broken One – NY Times, Mar 23

Fewer oaks, more conifers: Britain’s forests must change to meet climate targets – Guardian, Mar 22

Renewal and regrowth: how a glorious fig tree became a metaphor for my life – Guardian, Mar 21

'The forest is now terribly silent': land set aside for threatened species entirely burnt out – Guardian, Mar 21

Robert Miller: Find your center through nature while social distancing – SeaPI, Mar 21

Stubble in paradise – PLU Mast, Mar 19

Pine tree near flooded Czech village: European tree of the year – Guardian, Mar 17

Plantwatch: kelp – forgotten forests that help tackle climate crisis – Guardian, Mar 17

The expanding mission of conservation officers – SeaPI, Mar 15

Australia's Fire-Ravaged Forests Recovering. Ecologists Hope – KNKX, Mar 14

State MPs dismayed at NSW Forestry logging unburnt habitat after bushfires – Guardian, Mar 14

Carbon benefits of fast-growing trees have been clearly proven – Guardian, Mar 13

Energy vs. land: Land critical solution to climate change – SeaPI, Mar 11

Michigan forests, Buddhist text inspire new exhibit – SeaPI, Mar 11

London’s Trees Are Saving the City Billions – CityLab, Mar 9

Battle Oak legacy trees planted at historic Woods Cemetery in northwest Houston – SeaPI, Mar 5

The Secret to Enjoying Nature Is … Your Phone – WIRED, Feb 26

Congress: save our forests with Land-Water Conservation Fund – Kitsap Sun, Feb 19

Scientists Revive Ancient Trees From 2,000-Year-Old Seeds – KNKX, Feb 6 Tree News Elsewhere (cont.)

Turning a Vast, Post-Industrial Wilderness Into a Park in Pittsburgh – CityLab, Dec 31

What Are Trees Worth to Cities? - CityLab, Apr 2016

The Inequality of Urban Tree Cover - CityLab, May 2013

Books and other media:

Native Trees of the Pacific Northwest: A Geographic Guide

The Salmon Forest - The Salmon Forest is a 30-minute documentary film that explores the connection between wild salmon and life in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States. (YouTube)

New & Noteworthy, From Galileo to ‘Dunces’ - NY Times, Apr 28 (Books)

Splendid isolation: how I stopped time by sitting in a forest for 24 hours – podcast – Guardian, Apr 24

Our forests are in trouble, says Portland author of "Trees in Trouble", and the CV19 pandemic won’t help – Oregonian, Apr 13

21 new & classic books to keep you in touch with the natural world – LA Times, Apr 6

Formafantasma: Cambio review – how good is wood? - Guardian, Mar 5

Treehugger’s Podcast: latest here.

Heritage Tree Podcasts (Portland, OR): latest here.

How do Trees Collaborate? (NPR, 2017): TED Radio Hour

From Tree to Shining Tree (Radiolab, July 2016): podcast here.

Trees are Key podcast (TX A&M Forestry): series here.

The Truth about Trees (video documentary series)

Call of the Forest (Canadian tree movie documentary) TreePAC organization info:

“Are you tired of pleading, asking, arguing and proving that trees have public value? Join TreePAC and make change happen. Together we will be a lobby as powerful as the sports lobby.” Cass Turnbull, TreePAC founder.

Mission: The TreePAC mission is to influence local government to protect, maintain and increase the Seattle-area urban forest.

Website: https:// www.treepac.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TreePAC.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TreepacO

How to join (or donate) to TreePAC: https:// treepac.org/join/ Who we are: https:// treepac.org/board/

Mailing List: send an email to [email protected] to be added.